This date in baseball: June 24

[Auggie]

1911: Red Sox owner John I. Taylor announces he plans to lay out his new ballpark on a little more than eight acres of land in the Fenway section of Boston. The $650,000 project, scheduled to begin in September, with James McLaughlin serving as chief architect and the Cleveland-based Osborn Engineering Company, a well-respected firm that was involved in the design of Yankee Stadium, Forbes Field, and Tiger Stadium, responsible for the civil engineering services.

1936: Joe DiMaggio becomes the first Yankee and fifth player in major league history to hit two home runs in one inning. The 21 year-old rookie outfielder's homers come in the fifth frame in an 18-11 trouncing of the White Sox at Comiskey Park.

1950: Willie Mays makes his professional baseball debut, playing centerfield for Trenton, the Giants' farm team in the Class B Inter State League. The 20 year-old outfielder from Alabama goes hitless in the game against Hagerstown in Maryland, but will hit .353 in 81 games, before being promoted to the Minneapolis Millers, the Triple A affiliate of the parent club.

1968: Jim Northrup, who had struck out with the bases loaded in the first inning, becomes the sixth big leaguer to hit two grand slams in the same game. The 'Slammer's' power surge in the fifth (off Eddie Fisher) and sixth (off Billy Rohr) frames enables the Tigers to rout the Indians at Cleveland Stadium, 14-3.

MORE: http://www.nationalpastime.com

I love this stuff. And how ironic that today, of all days, I happen to REMEMBER that 1968 game in Cleveland!

[dem4decades]

1. Wow. Fenway planned 42 years ago on my birthday?

Go Sox.

[Ohiogal]

2. Thanks, Auggie

I love baseball trivia as well!

[Drifter]

3. Jim Northrop

Jim Northrup rented an apartment from my uncle when he was with the Syracuse Chiefs. He and my father became good friends. I remember that we visited him in Detroit when I was 5 or 6. He gave me a ride on his motorcycle.

When he landed in Baltimore at the end of his career, we went to see him play in Boston. We waited around after the game to see him, and met some big name players. Jim Palmer is one I got my picture with. Several others I don't remember well. Jim Rice? I must have been 12 or 13. A dream encounter.

Cheers
Drifter

[Auggie]

10. +1

[True Dough]

4. Oh, come on! Don't be a tease!

Did John I. Taylor succeed in getting a ballpark built or not???

[Auggie]

5. LOL ... photos of early Fenway:

Last edited Mon Jun 24, 2019, 05:35 PM - Edit history (1)

[True Dough]

6. I wonder what a ticket cost back then?

A nickel, maybe?

[Auggie]

8. Wasn't a nickle what the Sox got for Ruth?

$25,000 actually. Still one of the worst trades in history.

[kairos12]

7. I remember that game with Northrup. I remember that Tigers team and how

Gibson struck out 17 in the first World Series game and the Cards still lost the series. Mickey "the Donut" Lolich was not hittable that series.

Flood loses the ball in the Sun.

[Auggie]

9. McClain got win number 13 on this date ...

on the way to 31!

[kairos12]

11. I remember that 31 win season so well.